A corpora



W. L. AUD

LIFE SAVING SUIT June 2, 1931.

l 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 26. 1929 w. I .AUD

LIFE SAVING SUIT June 2, 1931.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1929 Patented June 2, 1931 UNE'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM LEE AUD, F POOLESVILLE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 SAFETY DEVICES CORPORATION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION 0F DELAWARE LIFE SAVING SUIT' Application filed March 26, 1929. Serial No. 350,050.

This invention relates to life saving suits of that type designed to withstand long i1nmersion in the water without leakage and wherein the suit is made of suitable waterproof or water and air or gas-proof material and is of union or one-piece construction, that is to say, comprises jacket `and trousers portions permanently united so as to be simultaneously donned or doifed.

One object of the invention is to provide .a suit of the character described with a front .ingress and egress opening having improved means for closing and sealing it, and improved means for making a fluid-tight connection between the neckband of the suit and the neck of the wearer, the construction being such as to require the connection or disconnection of but a single fastener in closing and opening the suit.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for securing a closed and comfortable iit'of the foot and leg portions of the garment with the foot and leg portions of the wearer.

The invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Y

Figure 1 is a view showing the application of the garment, and with the same in closed condition.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the N garment in position about the person of the ""3 wearer, but with the front opening and neckband open and unsealed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of po-rtions of the meeting' edges of the front opening and showing the fas- 0 tener for connecting the same.

Figure 4 is a sectionV through the parts shown in Figure 3 in fastened condition.Y

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the front sealing bands 5 and strips in partly open condition, and showing the connection between the upper ends of the band members and the outer band section of the neckband. Y

Figure 6 is a front view, partly in section, of the lower portions ofthe sealing bands and strips in closed condition, and with portions of the bands in section.

Figure 7 is a viewof parts illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and showing the tongue of the sealing strips inthe position it occupies when the garment front is open.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the sealing bands and the strip applied thereto.

Figure 9 is a view of a foot portion of the garment showing the means for clamping the same about the foot and leg of the wearer and with the clamping means in clamping condition.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the clamping means retracted or released.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the neckband in closed condition. V

In the practical embodiment of my invention I provide a life-saving suit comprising a jacket section 1 and a trousers section 2, integrally united, as set forth, and made of any suitable water-proof or water and air or gasproof material, the garment being closed except at the front vand neck portions and having at its front an ingress and egress opening 3 extending substantially from the crotch of the garment upwardly to and through the neckband 4.

The meeting edges 5 and 6 of the fabric at the opposite sides of the opening 3 terminate in sheathsor pockets 7 and 8 forming, with fillers 9 and 10 of soft elastic rubber therein, sealing strips 11and 12 extendingalong the entire margins of the opening 3. These strips 11 and 12 are reinforced on their outer sides by resilient reinforcing andv closure bands 13 and v14. Y

The bands 13 and 14 are hinged at their lower ends, as indicated at 15 to the upper free ends of the arms of a supporting and guide fork 16, arranged at the front of the crotch of the garment, and secured below the opening 3 to the closed walls or edges of the crotch. a `support for the lower ends of the spring bands 13 and 14 and a receptacle for a sealing tongue 17 uniting the lower ends of the strips ,11 and 12 and. closing said strips at the base of the opening 3.

The crotch 16 is provided to form 9 The bands 13 and 14 are longitudinally curved between their pivoted and free ends, or extend normally on an upward and outward lateral line of curvature, so as to spread the walls of the opening 8 and normally maintain said opening in the open condition shown in Figures 3 and 5. To close the suit, and simultaneously seal the opening 3, it is merely necessary to bring the bands 13 and 14 together, whereby the sealing strips 7 and 8 are also brought together, as shown in Figures 1, G and 11. Inasmuch as the lower halves of the bands 13 and 14: and strips 11 and 12 are normally very close together, the bringing together of the upper spread ends of said bands and strips causes the lower portions thereof to be put under high compression, so that by the use of but a single fastener the upper portions of the bands and strips may be united and similarly placed under compression, with the result that by connecting the bands together at their upper ends only the bands and strips throughout their length will be held closed, with the strips in sealing engagement. If desired, and as shown in Fig ure 3, the inner faces of the strips 11 and 12 may be provided with alternately arranged tongues and grooves so that by the interlocking connection between these tongues and grooves, and the elastic compression of the elastic fillers, an absolutely secure water-tight or water and air or gas-tight closure of the opening 3 will be effected.

The strips 11 and 12 are fastened together above the fork 16 and tongue 17 by means of rivets or like fastening connections 1S, which hold the strips confined to the bands. These rivets pass through and have a limited amount of play in slots 19 in the bands, allowing the strips to have the necessary up and down sliding movements to compensate for the movements of the bands relative to each other, in which operation the tongue 17 is adapted to move upward and downward in the fork 1G, the tongue snugly fitting within said fork and effecting a sealing connection at that point when the garment is closed. any suitable type of fastener may be employed for uniting the upper ends of the bands and strips. In the present instance, a fastener comprising a ratchet toothed plate Q0 is shown. the same having a threaded stem 21 projecting outwardly through openings in the strip 11 and band 13 and provided with wing nuts 22 for tightening and loosening the fastener. The ratchet toothed fastener' plate is adapted to be passed through an opening 23 in the strip 12 and band 14 and through an opening in a keeper plate 24 secured to the band 14, said plate having one of its edge walls adapted for coaction with the ratchet teeth of the plate 20, whereby the simple act of drawing the bands together and simultaneously forcing the plate 2O through the keeper 2O will interlock the bands and strips and place the strips under sealing coinpression, which may be increased by adjust ing` the nut 22 as will be readily understood. lt will be evident therefore that in applying the suit, it is merely necessary for the wearer to insert himself into the garment and then draw the up er ends of the plates 13 and 14 together, in which action the teeth of the plate 20 slide over and interlock with the locking edge of the keeper 24, thus enabling the suit to be applied and sealed within the shortest possible period of time.

The neckband 4 is of special construction and comprises a core formed of split ring or band sections 25 and 26 enclosed within a sheath formed by the material of the jacket 1, which is turned over upon the neckband 4- and cemented or otherwise suitably secured thereto when the neckband is in a maximun'i condition of expansion. In practice the band sect-ion Q5 preferably comprises a soft sponge rubber ring or rounded cross-section and like diameter throughout, while the band section QG comprises a split inflatable ring which is closed at its ends and of more or less uniform diameter in rear of the transverse center of the collar and thence of decreasing diame ter in advance thereof, or tapering toward its ends. An im'iation tube 27, of check valve or other suitable type, is provided by means of which the ring 26 may be iniiated with air or gas for the purpose of expanding it inwardly and thereby contracting the collar band to a greater or less degree to snugly7 yet elastically [it about the neck of the wearer l and seal the suit in a water or water and air or gas-tight manner at this point. The shape of the ring 26, with the tapering or reduced forward end portions, provides for relative degrees of movement between the collar sections Q5 and E26 in the inflation of the latter to different degrees to fit different sizes of necks. IThe upper ends of the bands 13 and 14 are provided with laterally bent anchoring portions 2S which are embedded in the ends of the ring 25 and tired therein when the latter vulcanized.

ln order to obviate the use of lacings or other fastening means requiring an amount of time for adjustment to secure the leg` and foot portions of the garment snugly in position about the legs and feet of the wearer, I provide, for coaction with the usual lead plate or trimming weight 29 attached to the bottom or sole of each foot portion a. pair of clamping` members 30 and 31 shaped to engage respectively over the front of the foot and at the rear above the heel portion. As shown, the front clamping plate 30 is pivoted, as at 3Q, to the arms of a yoke at each side of the foot portion, the base of which yoke extends under the foot portion, while the rear clamp 31 is pivoted, as at 34, to the weight 29 and the clamps 30 and 31 are connected at each side of the foot portion by a link 35. lVith this construction it will be understood that when the shoe or toot portion is unoccupied and the weight 29 is relieved trom pressure, the clamps 30 and 31 may be moved to and maintained in their open or non-clamping position shown in this figure. As soon, however, as the foot ot' the wearer is insert d and pressure brought to bear to cause the weight 29 to move downward, the links will be drawn upon to shift the clamps 30 and 3l to closed or clamping position, thus holding the shoes or foot portions closed about the foot of the wearer, while providing for the proper arrangement of the trimming weights for maintaining the wearer of the suit upright in the water.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, .the construction and mode of use of my improved life saving suit will be readily understood and its advantages appreciated without a further and extended description. ,ihile the construction disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the 'torni and arrangement ot the parts and details ot construction may be employed within the scope of the appended claims without departing trom the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages oic the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim l. A suit o1 the character described having an entrance and exit opening, sealing strips extending along the margins o't said opening, spring metal clamping strips eX- tending along the margins of the opening and backing the sealing strips, said clamping strips being hinged at their lower ends and normally bowed or curved outwardly and upwardly toward their upper ends, whereby, upon drawing the upper ends of the spring strips together the sealing strips will be brought into sealing engagement and the spring strips put under elastic tension, and a fastening device for connecting the upper ends of said strips and Vmaintaining them under such elastic tension.

2. A garment of the character described having an entrance and exit opening, sheaths along the margins otl said opening, elastic sealing strips disposed in said sheaths, spring metal closure strips extending along the outside Vof the sheaths and hinged at their lower ends and bowed or curved outwardly and upwardly toward their upper ends, whereby upon bringing the upper ends of the closing strips together the sealing strips will be brought into sealing engagement and the closing strips placed under elastic tension, and fastening means for connecting the upper ends of said strips and maintaining them under such elastic tension.

3. A garment of the character described having an entrance and exit opening, sheaths along the margins of said opening, elastic sealing strips enclosed in said sheaths, a fork secured to the garment adjacent to the lower ends of the sheaths, spring metal closing strips hinged at their lower ends to the fork and slidably connected with the sealing strips, said strips being outwardly and upwardly curved toward their free ends and adapted when brought together to bring the sealing strips into sealing engagement and to be placed under elastic tension, means for uniting the upper ends of said strips, and a flap joining the lower ends of the sheaths and movable in the fork in the adjustments of the strips.

4.-. A garment of the character described having an entrance and exit opening and a neck opening communicating therewith, means for closing the entrance and eXit opening, and a neckband around the neck opening comprising an inner split inlatable band and an outer split band backing the same and formed of sponge rubber.

5. A garment of the character described having an entrance and exit opening and a neck opening communicating therewith, means for closing the entrance and exit opening, and a neckband around the neck opening including an outer split band member of sponge rubber and an inner split inflatable band, the sponge rubber band being of substantially uniform diameter throughout and the inflatable band being of substantially uniform diameter in rear of its transverse center and thence tapering toward its ends.

6. A garment of the character described having foot portions, a weight applied to each foot portion, and clamping means applied to each foot portion and automatically operated by the insertion of the foot of the wearer to clamp said foot portion to the :toot of the wearer.

7 A garment of the character described having foot portions, a weight associated with each foot portion, and means for clamping each foot portion to the foot of the wearer when the latter is inserted in said foot portion, said means comprising a yoke extending transversely of the foot portion, a front clamping member pivoted to the yoke, a rear clamping member pivoted to the weight, and a link connection between the front and rear clamps at each side of the foot.

In testimony whereof Iy aiiix my signature.

VILLIAM LEE AUD. 

